The Road Trip

So, your interested in a roadtrip are you? Well, after traveling the U.S. for the 1998 NORBA National Mountain Bike Circuit, I have accumulated some photos and memories of this long and fun experience.

Durango, CO: Well the trip started out the evening of the Iron Horse Classic in Durango, Colorado on the last weekend in May. We raced the Iron Horse Classic mountain bike cross-country on Sunday and this started our cycling trip to the East coast. The Iron Horse itself was enough to talk about for a while but it was just the beginning. Waking up in the dorm room at Ft. Lewis College in Durango was actually the start of the crazy trip. The dorm rooms during the Iron Horse Classic are about $30.00 per night and offer some wonderful lodging. Shared bathrooms and concrete walls for everyone! We got to sleep in this morning because the race was late in the day. I remember how nice it was because I felt rested for the race. Another race another race delay. Race was delayed for half an hour. We were all warm-probably a little too warm. It was a long race to come, Durango is always a punishing race especially in the semi-pro class. The 98' track was a little different than than years past. A few new turns, same attitude.....Hammer. All in all, the race went well and was worth the travel down into the southwest part of Colorado. We left for the East Coast an hour and a half after the race.

Wolf Creek Pass, CO.: Dead tired and crazy, with my faithful teammate, traveling partner and friend, we started our way East. We hit Wolf Creek Pass and were wondering what the Continental Divide was all about so we stopped at the top for a quick shot and some info on the area. Apparently every drop of rain that lands on the east side of the top ends up in the Gulf of Mexico and every drop that lands on the West side ends up in the Pacific Ocean. Heading down the other side of the pass we were wondering why we did this crazy sport. The route to Richmond, Virginia is a long one and we soon learned the trials and tribulations of going East. Lesson number one, it is a long way to the Atlantic Ocean! We passed through the fields of Kansas, saw some wildlife, and a spectacular sunset.

We made it to Kingdom City, Missouri after 900 miles and 12.5 hours of speeding. Stayed in a wonderful hole in the wall but got some good sleep . We woke up to a loving couple shouting about a 12 pack of beer and decided it was time to keep going. This day was interesting and were able to snap a shot of the St. Louis Arch on our way through the city.

After St. Louis the scenery improved dramatically. My driving companion, driving like a possessed demon, was determined to get us there faster than the law allows. Unfortunately the torture really set in from here. Missouri was all right but we got pounded by rain. At times we had to slow down to 30 mph just so we did not hydroplane off the highway. We entered into Illinois, Indiana and then Kentucky and there seemed to be more attractive scenery in Kentucky than the last 1000 miles. There was lots of greenery and more hilly terrain. It was getting dark at this time and we made it to West Virginia just in time to see some really pretty countryside.

Richmond, VA: We stopped in West Virginia somewhere and I just had to buy Willie Nelson's Superhits album which included "On the Road Again." This definitely helped! Late that night we pulled into the hometown of my traveling partner in Richmond, Virginia. This is where the real interesting stuff began.

The house that his parents lived in was a historic landmark from 1905 which is basically brand-new in the East. Everything is very old back East. The house was originally a hospital and it was hard not to think of the lingering spirits that were checking us out. I slept in a classic Victorian room with furniture and decorations to match. We were fortunate enough to be able to stay here for over a week which proved to be very educational. After crashing-out for about 10 hours we went for a quick road ride South of town through some historic battlefields. The scenery is overwhelming and the history that is attached to it is even more powerful. It seems like everywhere you turn has some sort of historical significance to it. Coming from the West makes the experience that much more valuable.

The weather was hot and humid in Virginia this time of the year, making us work harder than normal on our rides. But wow, the heart rate is sure easy to get up in those conditions! The terrain South of Richmond is all rolling countryside with beautiful homes and farms. I was very impressed and I guess I did not realize until right now how special a road trip can be. Just the fact that I was riding through ancient battlefields is worth the trip. For the next 5 days my buddy "Ben" and I trained and painted. We had to work for this trip and his family was kind enough to hire us for a few days to paint and do some handyman work at their office.

The riding was fun due to the scenery change and we were able to ride some fun road rides on the Virginia countryside. Finding some single-track right in town was not that hard to do either. Belle Island which is located on the St. James River just a minute from downtown was a fun place to let it loose and we had a great time there. Belle Island is a small recreation area that offers some short but fun pieces of inner-city single-track. You would be suprised at what you can find in the middle of a city like Richmond.

Washington, DC: On the fifth day we made a travel trip to Washington, D.C.

The bikes stayed at home on this trip and I finally got to see Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian Institutes. Though we were only there for a day, I was fortunate to see most of the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum , and the part of the American History museum. Wow, this place is incredible. Talk about interesting stuff. Most of this stuff I had only seen in books and on T.V. There I was though, seeing the stuff first hand. Rockets, dinosaurs, and the Star Spangled banner are all part of my mental archives now.

Go there. It is well worth it. You do not even have to take the bikes, just go there. It really makes you appreciate this strange life and the quest for information. The very next day we were back on track heading for Nationals #2. This time the stage was set in Seven Springs, PA. Before we arrived in Seven Springs we had to stop by and see Ben's Grandma in Winchester, VA.

Winchester, VA: Talk about a old historical home, wow. Ben's grandmother lived in a house that was from the 1780's.

I slept in a room that was original and it still had the stenciling on the walls from 1789. The cradle that Ben's grandfather slept in was beside my bed. The place was amazing. Everything well kept and beautiful. There was a fireplace in every room and once again, it made you appreciate life. To see something so well kept and that old is amazing. Unfortunately our stay was short and we headed to Seven Springs on the Wednesday before the race.

Seven Springs, PA: When we arrived in Seven Springs it was raining.

Eager as ever, we went on a ride on the course and were able to experience the sweet single-track though it was muddy! The race was on Friday morning and the course had dried out-much better that last year. This course is one of the best national races on the circuit. The climb off of the start is about 6-10 minutes long and is very demanding. The single-track up on top of the mountain is fantastic. There are several rock gardens that will challenge any rider. Last year's race was in the pouring rain and was not the race you ever want to do again. The slick rock gardens were so bad it felt like you were getting tossed around in a pin ball machine. This race went well for both of us and we hung out to watch the downhill which was very impressive.

Once again the rock gardens on this course were unbelievable. The speed downhillers are holding through this type of terrain is amazing. They literally bounce like a ball down these steep faces. Our trip resumed this time with a new addition. Jen, another member of our team was now part of the crew. We hit the road early on Monday morning and headed west for Minnesota. The State where Jesse "the body" Ventura is now Governing.

Chicago,IL: We were able to stop in Chicago for a picture and a bite to eat. We stopped in Lincoln Park and ate at a fantastic restaurant named the Basil Leaf Cafe. It is always wonderful to eat at an authentic Italian place no matter where you are. After dinner we headed towards Wrigley field, snapped a picture and kept going.

We made it to another small roadside hole-in-the-wall in western Illinois before waking up and heading towards the "Old Miss." Leaving Illinois and heading Northwest took us up through Cheesehead Territory and into Minnesota. We were fortunate enough to travel up the Mississippi River for 60 miles into Redwing, MN. This was a really cool town to check-out. The setting puts the town on the banks of the Mississippi River and makes for some magnificent scenery.

The road riding in the area is fantastic as well. The people are kind and courteous here and welcomed us with open arms.

Welch Village, MN: The next day we were able to pre-ride the course and it was pretty much the same course as last year and it is one hell of a course.

The terrain might suprise you here in Minnesota. Though the climbs are short they require power due to their steep grades. The single-track sections are twisty and challenging and this terrain can challenge any rider. After the race, we made our way back towards Colorado and then on to Park City.

Park City, UT: I was solo now and stopped in Park City to ride the National Course that we would be racing in July. Deer Valley is an excellent place to ride. It is located 10 miles from Park City, Utah. The terrain is classic there. Steep climbs, fast downhills, and technical single-track. I crashed pretty hard on this day and ruined my rear derailleur and some skin. I left for California directly after my ride and made it all the way to Truckee, CA.

Trukee, CA: After a very long drive from Park City to Truckee, I stopped to camp near Stampede Reservoir. I was camped out by myself with not a sole within miles and was awakened at 4:40 AM by a bear snorting around my tent. Yaouch! Scared the hell out of me and I could not get back to sleep. I folded up camp at 5:AM and my friends from Sacramento were on their way up to Truckee to meet me and fish all day. Needless to say the fishing was not that great but the day was fun and it is always fun hanging out with your best friends and fishing all day! After fishing we headed down to Sacramento and I crashed there for a night. My friend Aaron and I woke up and did a road ride on the American River bike trail in the heart of Sacramento, CA. Suprisingly this is a really long bike trail that follows the American River for about 40 miles. It is a great place to road ride if you are ever in the Sacto area. You never worry about cars and the scenery is beautiful along the American River.

Marin Headlands. CA: After the ride I headed to Sausalito, Ca where my sister lives and where mountain biking began. I stayed here for a few days and did some fairly impressive mountain bike rides. The Marin Headlands are an excellent place to ride if you are ever in the San Fran area. They are located on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge in between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean.

There is really a ton of riding there. Most of it is confined to fire roads but if you seek you shall find some great single-track. The views from the headlands are unbelievable. There is plenty of climbing and if you want, you can ride all day there and never see the same trail twice. Next stop was Bodega Bay, CA.

Bodega Bay, CA: This is where I stayed for the next 2 weeks and I completed several mountain and road rides in this area. The road riding is fantastic. If you want to see wineries and vineyards then this is the place to ride. There are several routes to take in the Napa and Sonoma area. Riding along the Pacific Ocean on Highway one is not a bad ride either. The views of the ocean along Highway One are unforgettable.

There is some excellent mountain biking in this area too. I rode some great rides in Anadel State Park which is located just east of Santa Rosa, Ca. If you travel over to the city of Napa, you can access Skyline Park where the annual season opener of the Grundig/UCI World Cup Mountain Bike Race takes place. It is a really nice place to ride. After staying in Bodega and training for a week I headed to Lake Tahoe where I stayed and prepared for Nationals #4 at Mammoth Mtn.

Lake Tahoe, CA: I completed rides in Squaw Valley, Northstar, and Tahoe City. All were very fun but one of the most fun parts of this entire trip was the 4th of July in Tahoe. It is really a site to see and a great place to spend the 4th. My buddy Aaron and I spent the day at Chambers Landing on the West shore of Lake Tahoe and partied all day. So much for training for a couple of days. In the evening we headed for South Shore for the fireworks show of a lifetime. The fireworks show was amazing over the water. The organizers put 4 platforms out on the water and let the fireworks fly. The fireworks just keep getting bigger and better. After this day it was time to focus on the race that was coming so I headed to Mammoth and started to prepare.

Mammoth Lakes, CA: I met up with the team and we all stayed at the Four Seasons Condo which is a great place to stay. Mammoth was different this year and the organizers moved the event from the upper mountain to the lower mountain. Since there was so much snow it was probably a good idea because there can be some serious snow still on the mountain-even in July. The x-country course was a very demanding tester that punished everyone. Mammoth always puts on a good race and everything went well. After the race we stopped at Hot Creek where a natural thermal hotspring flows into a creek. It is a great place to relax and put down a couple of beverages after a long hard race. Next stop was Deer Valley, Utah and after that it was Breckenridge, Colorado.

Deer Valley, UT: Once again I was back in Park City. It seemed like I was just here yesterday. This is a fantastic place to race. The climbs are steep and the downhills are fast. Deer Valley is located about 30 miles east of Salt Lake City and it offers miles and miles of trails. The organizers of this race always have it together and put on a great race. The terrain here is the epitome of fine single-track. The soil is packed, the trails are maintained, and the locals always show up to cheer everyone on. This race was another hard one and I was extremely tired after it was over. After Utah we headed East again back into Colorado where the mountains are big, and the air is thin.

Breckenridge, CO: Breck is a great place to ride. There are so many trails in this area it would be crime to only stay here for a day or so. This was the first time that a National Race was held at this resort and I would have to say the promoters did a great job with it. The course was very hard and the pouring 40 degree rain did not help either. The course offered some of the finest National racing terrain that I have ever been on. Steep climbs and twisted Colorado single-track was dished out to everyone who was brave enough to tackle this 10,000+ foot strangler. The bottom of the course started at over 10,000 feet and we ascended to nearly 11,000 feet. The course was a classic figure 8 that dropped us back into the expo area after a half of a lap. It was one of the longest races of the year and it took most of us 2:45:00 to complete.

This marked the end of our long and fun roadtrip. The roadtrip started on May 27th and ended in late July. It was a long trip that will stick in the mind for a long time. It was a trip that made you realize why you spend all of those solo hours training.

If you have a fun roadtrip that you would like to share with the rest of the world, let us post it for you on our site. All you have to do is type it out for us in either a "Microsoft Word" file and attach it to an e-mail or write it out on an e-mail and send it directly to us at bikeparts.com. It can be any length you wish. Thanks for reading and being a part of what we enjoy doing. Happy trails and happy travels!